Lid and door support to maintain same in desired position



March 22, 1949. N. A. GUSSACK 2,455,083

. LID AND DOOR SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN SAME IN DESIRED POSITION I Filed May 13, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

draihanyaflq 1 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES NT OFFICE LID AND DOOR SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN SAME IN DESIRED POSITEON 9 Claims.

This invention relates to supports for maintaining a lid or door in a desired or predetermined position.

Broadly, it is an object of my invention to provide a device, one part of which is attached to a stationary part of a cabinet or door jamb and the other part to the movable lid of the cabinet or door.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide a supporting unit having a rigid tongue pivotally connected to one part of the unit which passes between spring friction means on another part of the unit so that a lid or door will be maintained in any desired position.

A further object is to provide an inexpensive device for a lid or door to prevent slamming of ame while being closed.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the unit attached to a fragmentary part of a cabinet, parts of same being broken away and showing the lid in angular position.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken through line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the movable tongue, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified tongue showing notches for fixing the angle of a lid or door at a specific or predetermined angle.

Referring to the drawing, numeral Ill refers to a complete unit consisting of two interlocking parts. One part comprises a plate Ii having a pair of opposed ears l2 bent upward from the same material as the plate. The ears l2 have aligned opposed holes it which receive a pair of round opposed projections M at one end of a shaped tongue permitting the tongue 55 to pivot. Plate II has a series of screw holes through which screws it are passed for attaching plate H to a surface, such as the lid l! of a cabinet l8. The tongue I5 has converging or tapered sides 89 at the lower portion and straight parallel sides 33 at the upper portion and a stop in the preferred form of a screw.

The other part comprises a back plate 2| having a pair of opposed sides 22 bent in the same direction from the material of the plate 2!. Sides 22 have aligned opposed holes 23. A pair of circular plates 26, somewhat larger in circumference than holes 23 and having round projections 25 extending from the center of one side thereof, are placed against the inside of sides 22 so that the round projections 25 pass through the hole 23. A round tube 26, with an inside diameter a fraction larger than the circumference of the plates 25 is revolvably seated between sides 22 and upon the circular plates 24. The center of tube 26 has opposed aligned openings or slots 21. Within tube 25 are a pair of opposed helical springs 28, one end of each of which is seated against the plates 24 and the opposite end of each against a pair of opposed balls 29. Screw holes are provided in the back plate 2| for screws 30 for attaching it to a surface, such as the cabinet I8.

The tongue 15 passes through the opposed aligned openings 27, which are slightly larger than the width and thickness of the tongue I5 and passes between balls 29. The screw stop 20 prevents the tongue 15 from leaving the tube 26 since the openings 21 are only slightly larger than the thickness of the tongue l5.

Assuming that the supporting unit Ill is attached to a cabinet, such as a victrola, or radio cabinet with a top lid attached to one wall by a. hinge 3|, the plate I I is attached to the lid l1 adjacent the back or hing-ed end and the back plate 2! is attached to the back 32 of cabinet [8 adjacent the top. When the lid I! is manually raised or lowered to any angle within as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will remain in such position due to the pressure of the opposed balls 29 against the sides of the tongue I5. It should be noted that the tongue I5 has parallel opposed sides 33 at the pivoted end and inclined or tapered sides l9 toward the opposite end. When the lid is opened at a greater'angle, the weight of the lid is not as great as when the lid is open at a lesser angle. The force or pressure therefore, against the sides of the tongue need not be as great to hold the lid at such greater angle. As the lid is moved downward, the weight of it becomes greater so that more pressure against the sides of the tongue is required. Since the tongue becomes wider towards its upper end, the lower the lid is moved, the more pressure is exerted by the balls against the sides of the tongue since the tongue is moving the balls apart against spring pressure. The tapered tongue therefore compensates for the weight of the lid.

For heavier lids, stronger springs 28 may be used, or a wider tapered tongue [5 may be employed, or two or more units can be attached. Of course, the entire unit can be made in larger or smaller size depending upon the use and weight of lid to be held. Rollers (not shown) may be used in place of the balls 29.

Since the tongue 15 passes through openings or slots 21 which are slightly wider than the thickness of the tongue I5, the tube 26 is caused to rotate as the lid is opened or closed because the tongue assumes diiferent angles, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. The tongue I is long enough with screw stop 20 at its end to permit the lid H to open to 90. By lengthening the tongue the lid can be made to open to more than 90. The screw stop 2!! may also be moved along holes or a longitudinal slot in the tongue (not shown) to stop the movement of the lid at any desired position for certain uses. Other stop means may be employed instead of the screw 20, such as a tit created by a blow with a pointed tool, or the end of the tongue may be enlarged after it is inserted through slots 21.

If it is desired to stop the lid at a particular angle, notches 34 and 36 may be provided, such as shown in Fig. 5 of modified tongue 35. The balls 29 will fall into such notches as the tongue 35 moves when the lid is opened or closed to a greater or lesser angle. Such notches may be opposed, as shown, or may be made on one side or on alternate sides (not shown).

It should also be noted that when the lid l? is lowered, the balls 29 move up the inclined sides [9 to the point where parallel sides 33 begin, as indicated by the lower arrow 3'3. If the lid is released at this point, the lid will move downward of its oWn weight the remaining short dis-- tance, as indicated between the heads of arrows 31 and 38 since sides 33 are parallel and thus prevent slamming of the lid ll against the upper edge 39 of the cabinet.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the general spirit of the invention. It is also obvious that the support may be used for doors as well as lids to prevent slamming and for other fixtures not mentioned herein.

I claim:

1. A support comprising two interlocking parts, one of said parts having a plate and a tongue, said tongue having tapering side edges, a stop at the end of said tongue, said tongue pivotally attached to said plate, the other part having a back plate, said back plate having opposed sides, a revolvable tubular member between said sides, opposed aligned slots at the central portion of said revolvable member, a pair of opposed springs and a pair of opposed balls seated at the ends of said springs within said tubular member, said balls adjacent said slots in said tube, said tongue projecting through said slots of said tube.

2. A support for a hingeable member comprising a supporting member and a holding member, said supporting member having a tongue and a plate, said tongue pivotally attached to said plate, said tongue having its sides tapered toward its end, a stop at the end of said tongue, said holding member having opposed sides and a revolvable tube therebetween, aligned slots in said revolvable tube, said tongue passing through said aligned slots, said tube seated between said opposed sides, friction means within said tube providing friction against said tongue for maintaining said hingeable member in a desired position.

3. A support for a hingeable member attached to a stationary member comprising two interlocking parts, one of said parts comprising a plate having opposed ears, screw holes for attaching said plate to said hingeable member, a tongue pivotally attached to said ears, said tongue hav- 4 ing tapered sides, a stop at the end of said tongue, the other of said parts comprising a back plate having opposed sides, circular plates seated against the inside of said sides, a revolvable tube seated between said sides upon said circular plates, opposed aligned openings in said tube, a pair of opposed springs and a pair of opposed balls fitted at the ends of said springs within said tube, said balls projecting into said aligned slots, holes on said back plate for attaching said back plate to said stationary member, said tongue passing through said aligned opposed slots in said tube and between said balls for maintaining the hingeable member in a predetermined position.

4. A support comprising two interlocking parts, one of said parts having a plate With opposed ears, said ears having opposed aligned holes, screw holes for attaching said plate, a tongue having a pair of opposed projections at one end, said projections fitting within said holes of said ears permitting said tongue to pivot, said tongue having tapered sides, a stop at the end of said tongue, the other of said parts comprising a back plate, opposed sides having opposed aligned holes, opposed circular plates, said plates having round projections extending from the center of one side thereof, said projections passing through said last-named holes in said opposed sides, a round tube revolvably seated between said sides of said back plate and upon said circular plates, opposed aligned openings in said tube, a pair of opposed springs within said tube, a pair of opposed balls seated at the ends of said springs, screw holes on said back plate for attaching said plate, said tongue passing through said aligned opposed openings in said tube and between said balls.

5. A support for a lid comprising a tongue, said tongue pivotally attached to a plate, in combination with a pressure unit, said unit comprising a back plate having a pair of opposed sides, a revolvable tube between said sides, aligned slots at the central portion of said tube through which said tongue passes, spring members within said tube having balls seated at each end thereof adjacent said aligned slots, said balls riding against the opposed edges of said tongue for maintaining said lid in any desired position.

6. A support for a lid comprising a part for attachment to the stationary part of an article, said part comprising a back plate, a pair of 0D- posed sides bent from said plate, a revolvable tube between said sides, friction means within said tube, opposed slots at the central portion of said tube, a tongue having tapered sides passing through said opposed slots in said tube, said tongue pivoted upon a back plate for attachment to said lid. stop means at the end of said tongue whereby by manually moving said lid to any desired position, said lid will be maintained in said position.

'7. A support for. a lid of a container comprising two interlocking parts, one of said parts for attachment to said lid and the other part for attachment to the stationary portion of said container, said part comprising a plate having a pair of opposed ears, aligned holes in said ears, a tongue having projections at one end, said tongue pivotally attached between said ears by passing said projections through said holes in said ears, said tongue having tapered sides, stop means at the end of said tongue, the other of said parts comprising a back plate having a pair of opposed sides, aligned holes in said sides, circular disks having central projections, said disks seated on the inside of said sides by passing said projections through said aligned holes, a revolvable tube between said sides seated upon said disks, said tube having central aligned slots slightly larger than the cross sectional area of said tongue, friction means within said tube for providing pressure against the sides of said tongue, said tongue passing through said aligned slots whereby said lid may be manually moved and maintained in any desired position.

8. A support for a lid comprising two interlocking parts, one of said parts comprising a plate having ears, a tongue pivoted on said plate, said tongue having tapered sides, notches along the edges of said tongue, stop means at the end of said tongue, the other of said parts comprising a back plate having opposed sides, aligned holes in said sides, a revolvable tube seated between said sides, aligned slots slightly larger than the cross sectional area of said tongue at the central portion of said tube, said tongue passing between said slots of said tube, a pair of opposed springs within each end of said tube, a pair of opposed balls seated at the ends of said springs adjacent said slots of said tube providing pressure against said tongue, whereby said lid may be moved and maintained in any desired position, said notches in said tongue providing additional holding means for supporting said lid at predetermined angles.

9. A support comprising two interlocking parts, one of said parts comprising a plate having opposed ears bent from the material of said plate, said ears having opposed aligned holes, said plate having screw holes, a tongue having a pair of opposed projections at one end, said projections fitting Within said holes of said ears permitting said tongue to pivot, said tongue having tapered sides, a stop at the end of said tongue, the other of said parts comprising a back plate, opposed sides bent from the material of said back plate and having opposed aligned holes, opposed circular plates, said plates having round projections extending from the center of one side, said projections passing through said last named holes, a round tube revolvably seated between said sides of said back plate and upon said circular plates, opposed aligned openings in said tube, a pair of opposed springs within said tube, a pair of opposed balls seated at the ends of said springs adjacent said aligned openings, screw holes on said back plate, said tongue passing through said aligned opposed openings in said tube and between said balls whereby said balls provide varying pressure upon the tapered sides of said tongue to maintain said tongue in any desired position.

NATHAN A. GUSSACK.

No references cited. 

